Golf club swing training device

ABSTRACT

For use with a golf club having a shank and a head there is provided a loop having a bight large enough to slip over the shank but not large enough to pass over the head. The loop is flexible and is connected by an articulation to a body having a substantial weight and preferably of a material making an audible click when the body strikes the club sole at the end of the backswing. The weight body may take the form of a threaded eye bolt including a pair of lock nuts between which a plurality of washers are clamped.

United St3tS Patent 1 Wieboldt 51 Mar. 27, 1973 [54] GOLF CLUB SWING TRAINING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Richard A. Wieboldt, 1623 Ora 1,644,392 10/1927 Myers ..273/186 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 472,237 9/1937 Great Britain ..273/194 R Primary ExaminerGeorge J. Marlo Attorney-Lothrop 8:. West [57] ABSTRACT For use with a golf club having a shank and a head there is provided a loop having a bight large enough to slip over the shank but not large enough to pass over the head. The loop is flexible and is connected by an articulation to a body having a substantial weight and preferably of a material making an audible click when the body strikes the club sole at the end of the backswing. The weight body may take the form of a threaded eye bolt including a pair of lock nuts between which a plurality of washers are clamped.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures D Patented March 27, 1973 3,722,890

I 28 INVENTOR.

RICHARD A. WIEBOLDT ATTORNEYS GOLF CLUB SWING TRAINING DEVICE In teaching the game of golf there is considerable difficulty in instructing the pupil with respect to a smooth and proper swing of his club. The backswing should be accomplished in a particularly deliberate and set path with various body motions and muscles coordinated in order to afford the optimum result. The swing should not be jerky norhurried nor erratic. It is of help to know when the end or top of the backswing has been reached so that the following downswing or stroke can likewise be accomplished smoothly in the proper path and with appropriate connection with the ball, the corresponding body motions and muscles also being appropriately coordinated throughout.

Without going into the various player faults and aberrations which result in improper golf swings, both the backswing and the downswing, it is sufficient to say that pupils and even some moderately skilled players do not accomplish the appropriate motions and use of musculature that provide the desired, optimum result.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a practice attachment for the usual golf club, particularly clubs used in driving, so that the motion of the club is felt when it is in an appropriate path and so that there is also an audible indication when the backswing has been essentially completed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment for a golf club effective to provide a mark on the ground or turf at about the time of impact of the club head with the ball so that thereafter there is a visual indication of the actual path of the club head during the related stroke.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment for a golf club which can easily be applied to and removed from the club so that it can be used with any chosen golf club.

Another object of the invention is to provide a removable golf club attachment which can easily be carried in the palyers pocket when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a teaching attachment for a golf club in which the character of the attachment can be varied from time to time and from pupil to pupil to provide the selected amount of instructional activity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a golf club practice attachment of a generally improved nature.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in the embodiments of the invention described in the accompanying description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the golf club practice attachment as it has been embodied in a practical form;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing in plan a modified version of the golf club practice attachment;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the form of attachment disclosed in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the relationships of the golf club practice attachment to a clubwhen the club is near the end of the back swing and beginning the downswing; and

FIG. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the location of a golf club with respect to the ground or turf and positions of the golf club practice attachment at the beginning of an upswing and at the substantial conclusion of the downward portion of a downswing.

While the device of the invention can be used with various different golf clubs it is described herein as it is used with a driver. This club has a shank 7, or shaft (shown broken away), fixed in a hosel 8 merging with a club head 9 having a sole 11 or sole plate and having a striking face 12.

Pursuant to the invention, there is provided, as shown in FIG. I particularly, a loop 13 having an interior bight 14 defined by the folding upon itself of a flexible, soft material such as a nylon rope or the like. The loop 13 is extended to provide a secondary loop 16. The ends of the continuous, nylon rope are united within and protected by a covering 17. Articulated with and so joined as to the secondary loop 16 is an eye 18 of a bolt 19 threaded throughout substantially its entire shank length. On the bolt shank is a body 20 including a pair of lock nuts 21 and 22 movable along the bolt shank and between them clamping a position a plurality of washers 23. Preferably the nut 22 is anchored by a cotter pin 24.

With the device so provided, the relationship of the secondary loop 16 and of the eye 18 is quite a flexible one so that the body 20 can move with respect to the loop 13 without any substantial restriction. The general dimensions of the device are such that the bight 14 can readily pass over the shaft 7 and hosel 8 of the club but by no means can pass the club head 9. The nylon rope is freely movable about the hosel 8 and in abutment with the upper surface of the adjacent head without substantial friction and without any marring or injury. The length of the extended structure between the bight l4 and the outer end portion of the body 20 is such that when the loop 13 is around the hosel 8 or shaft in the immediate vicinity of the head, the body 20 can readily come into abutment with the sole 11 or other adjacent portion of the club 9. The material of the body is such that when forcibly struck against the material of the head an audible click ensues.

In a modified version of the attachment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, there is afforded the customary loop 13 and bight 14 as before but the body 26 is preferably cast or formed integrally with an articulation 27 joining the body to the loop 13. The material used is pliable, the flexibility of the parts being thus preserved. The body 26 is of a weighty material and can even have additional weights enclosed therein. In this instance, the body is likewise provided with an integral projection 28 extending in the direction of the length of the body and having a relatively sharp configuration.

In the use of either of the forms of the device, the loop 13 is slipped over the shaft of the club and is permitted to fall until it is substantially in abutment with the club head. When the head of the club is placed on or adjacent the turf, or ground, the user simultaneously adjusts the body 20 or 26 so that the body extends forwardly in the general direction of intended advance of the ball.

The user then begins his backswing in the customary way, utilizing the appropriate body positions and musculature so that the club head 9 swings generally in an are from the ground to a position above and behind the u'sers head. During that upswing or backswing, the weight of the body 20 or 26 causes it to lag behind due to its inertia. Likewise, due to centrifugal force, the body tends to wrap partially around the club head and to extend radially outwardly affording an additional force, the presence of which is obvious to the user and tends to make his backswing appropriately slow and smooth and to keep the club head in the proper path.

When the backswing has substantially decelerated and stopped, the attachment body 20 or 26, because of its momentum, tends to continue in the immediately preceding direction even though at this time the club head is virtually stationary or is stopped. Thereupon, the flexible articulation 17 or 27 and the loop 13 permit thehead 20 or 26 of the attachment to wrap partially around the head and abruptly to contact some portion of the head, preferably the sole plate 11. This changes the forces on the club head so that an impulse is sent through the hands and arms of the user to indicate to him the fact of cessation of the backswing. Also the body 20 or 26 makes a sharp contact with the club sole and a clicking noise may be heard by the user. The user then has both an audible and a tactile indication of the club head position.

When he then makes the downswing, the weight tends to fly out radially by centrifugal force, with the body 20 or 26 swinging toward a position below the sole plate 11. At about the time the club head reaches the lowermost point of the arc, the body 20 or 26 strikes the ground or turf and the sole plate 11 substantially simultaneously, thereby providing a loud click sound and a tactile indication of proper timing. The weighted body, because of the direction of motion of the club head, tends to strike the ground below the club head and takes a small divot or makes a groove in the terrain. By noting the relationship of such divot or groove to the actual impact location of the club face, the pupil or user can readily estimate what the position of the club head was with respect to the ball and can make whatever adjustments are subsequently necessary in his swing.

The weight of the body 20 or 26 affords an inertia effect whereby the club head after passing the bottom of the arc is urged forwardly along the flight path for as long a period as possible, thereby improving the follow through of the users swing.

In addition, when the follow-through after the downswing is substantially completed, the weight in association with the club head gives a further tactile indication to the user that the follow-through is substantially finished.

It can therefore be seen that l have provided an attachment which helps to improve a golfers swing throughout its entire cycle.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a regulation golf club including a shaft, a hosel, and an enlarged head joined to said hose] and having a toe and a sole, a practice attachment comprising a body having a substantial weight, a loop of soft flexible rope material having a bight large enough to pass over said shaft and encompass and be freely movable about said hosel, but small enough not to pass over said head, the ends of said rope being connected to said body, and an elongated covering over said ends of said rope between said body and said bight, the combined length of said body, said elongated covering and said bight being sufficient so that with said bight encompassing the vicinity of the junction between said hpsel and said head said bod is capable of touching said sole when said bight, said elongated covering and said body are oriented in the direction of said toe. 

1. In combination with a regulation golf club including a shaft, a hosel, and an enlarged head joined to said hosel and having a toe and a sole, a practice attachment comprising a body having a substantial weight, a loop of soft flexible rope material having a bight large enough to pass over said shaft and encompass and be freely movable about said hosel, but small enough not to pass over said head, the ends of said rope being connected to said body, and an elongated covering over said ends of said rope between said body and said bight, the combined length of said body, said elongated covering and said bight being sufficient so that with said bight encompassing the vicinity of the junction between said hosel and said head, said body is capable of touching said sole when said bight, said elongated covering and said body are oriented in the direction of said toe. 